Electric cooking device



f May 7, 1929. A. J. BRESSAN Y ELECTRIC COOKING'l DEVICE Filed Aug. 2o,

1926 3 Sheets-Sheet May 7, 1929. A, ERESSAN Lly-? ELECTRIC COOKING DEVICE Filed Aug. 20, 1925 3 Shees-Shet 2 A. J. BRESSAN ELECTRIC May 7, 1,929.

COOKING DEVICE Filed Aug. 2O 1926 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 luvwtoz flressan @13 @MOT/140% Patented May 7, 192.9.

uNrr-ED STATES' PATENT OFFICE;

ANTHONY JaBRfEssAN, F PLAINFIELD, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOB,- TO ELECTRO THER- 4 MAL UNIT COMPANY, A TRUST ESTATE, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

ELECTRIC COOKING DEVICE.

Appucauon mea August 20, 192s. serial No. 1so,5o7.

This invention relates to electric cooking devices, audit 1s the object. of the lnvention to provide an electric cooking device par.

ticularly adapted for use as a broiler wherel in -the article is cooked hy radiant heat rays and to provide an electric broiling device which is simple in structure and ethcient interial of the conductor or to the passage of the currentI therethrough. However, due to the exposure ofthe conductor to the atmosphere and the heating thereof to a high temperature and cooling ot the material it quickly deteriorates and becomes useless. It is a further object of the invention to overcome this disadvantage by providing a -radi.

ant heating unit wherein the resistance con-A ductor is sealed from the atmosphere and moisture by embedding the same in a material having high thermal conductivity and a non-conductor ot' electricity, which material is adapted to be rendered incandescent by an elect-ric current passing through the conductor, and said heating unit being arranged as an exposed radiant surface by a plate or brick of material which has the properties of beinga good heat resistor, a nonconduc tor of electricity'and as a heat deflcctor.

It is is another object of the invention to provide in an electric cooking device of this character regulatable means for prodicing a heat of variable temperature.

Other objects and advantages will hereinafter appear. P

In'the drawings accompanying andforming a part of this spcciiication Figure 1 is a perspective View looking at the front and one side ot an electric cooking device embod ying the present invention, and showing the parts in position when cooking, the same being also adapted for the supportinigi of a dish or dishes for warming the same simultaneously with the cooking ot' an article.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the cooking device illustrating one embodiment. of my improved heating unit and being partly in section to show the relation of an article to the heating means as it is being cooked and showing in dotted lines another position of the article carrier.

Figure 3 is a top view of regulating means for controlling thetemperature-of the heat mounted on the frame of the device.

Figure 4 is a. cross sectional view of th heat controlling means taken on the line 1 -a of Figure 1 lookingin the direction of the arrows. v

Figure 5 is a perspective view on an enlarged scale and partly broken awayof. the supporting frame in which the heating unit is mounted. 4

Figure 6 is a perspective View of the carrier for the heating unit looking at the back thereof, with a frame extending around the marginal portions partly brokenfaway.

Figure 7 'is a cross sectional View ofen element of the heating'unit shown in Figure 2 and showing the manner of mounting the same on its carrier in electrical connection with terminal connectors arranged on the carrier.

Figure 8 is a perspective View of a heating element of the heating unit shown in Fig? ure 1 previous to applying an enclosing material over t-he conductor.

Figure 9 is a perspective view of a fra-gnient of the carrier for the article to be cooked and whereby the article is ositioned relative to the heating unit, and) showing the same with an outwardly bulged portion to serve as a receiverffor drippings from an article as it is being cooked.

Figure 10 is a perspectiveview of the termmal connector mounted on the carrier for the heating unlt for connectlon of the heat- .ing elementv and connecting the same with a source of electricity.

Figure 1l is a front elevation of the heat- Iing unit and its carrier showing a modified arrangement of the heating element.

Figure 12 is a cross sectional view taken on the line 12-12 of Figure 11 looking in the direction ofthe arrows.

Figure 13 is a view of the heatingunit shown" in Figure 1l looking at the rear thereof.

Figure 14 is an enlarged sectional View of a port-ion of the heating unit to show the 4manner of mounting lterminal connectors thereon for the connect-lon of the terminal heating unit shown in Figure 11 toshowA `thereof with the base of the cone.

the construction, arrangement and mounting of the heating element.

In carrying out the embodiment of the invention show-n in Figures 1 to 9 t-here is provided a carrier 1G in the form of a brick or plate of rectangular sha pe, although it may be of ditlerent shape, of heat resist-ing material-and'having'the properties of being a nonconductor of electricity, diatomaceous earth having been found suitable for the purpose since such material does not absorb heat but acts to deflect heat therefrom. A radiant heating element or elements is carried upon or in one .face of said plate. As shown in Figures 2, 7 and 8 a series of elements are provided, each element comprising a body portion 17 of molded material having high thermal conductivity and having the properties of a non-conductor of electricity, and adapted to be rendered incandescent and radiate heat therefroln by an electric current passed through a conductor embedded in said mat-erial. The material commonly termed alundum grains intimately united in compact form while in a plastic state by a cementitious material, such as a suitable colloidalfmaterial or clay being found ellicient for the purpose. This body 17 has an electric current conductor 19 embedded therein of high resistance material, nicbrome wire. being advantageous for this purpose, in the form of a coil arranged in spiral form. lVhile this body may be of various forms as shown in Figure 4 it is of truncated conical form with an annular enlargement 18 at the base toform a shoulder at the juncture of the base of the cone and said enlargement., and having a projection or stem 20 extending from the enlargement 18 opposite to the cone, said' projection beinfT of reduced diameter. Aspiral recess 2() 1s arranged about the peripheral Wall of the body in which the conductor 19, engages with one. terminal 22 extended through a passage 23 in the body having an opening in the peripheral Wall of the cone adjacent the apex and passing axially through the cone and connect-ed stem 20. The other terminal 24 of the conductor is passed through a passage 25 through the enlargement 18 at the juncture As so arranged material the same as that. from which the body lnade is applied in a plastic state over the conductor wire to enclose the same. The heating element so formed is mounted upon the plate 1,6 by engaging the body projection 2t) in a recess 2(5.iu one face of the plate with the .shoulder formed bv the reduced portion 2() abutting against the face of the plate. The plate has perforations 27, 28 for the passage of the termina-ls 22, 24 of 'the resistance member 19, the perforations 27 being axially of the recesses 26 in line with the passage 23 and the other passage 2S to register with 'the passage 25. The plate perforations have suitable insulator bushings 29, 30 therein. `The terminals of the resistance element are connected to connectors 31 (Figure l0). The terminals of the 'resistance element Ahave two or more turns thereof coiled about a projection 3 2 and secured to the connectors by a screw 33 passed through a perforation in the connector with` a Washer 34interposed between the screw and connector servingto mount the connectors upon the plate 3G. The screws and connectors also serve to connect a lead in Wire from a source o f electricity with the resistance element. By the arrangement of winding the terminals of the resistance element about a pai-tof the connectors as described the heat generated by the resistance of the resistance wire to the passage of the current which causes said wire to become brittle and quickly deteriorated is distrill uted in the material of the connectors. `A sheet of heat insulating material 35, such as asbestos, may be arranged at the back of the plate 1G, and in 'the'use of such a sheet the connectors 31 are mounted thereon.

A metallic strap 3G is engaged about the ni .ginal or edge portion of the plat-e 16 and whereby it is mounted -in a frame of a shape to conform to the shape of the plate and comprising a base 37, sides 38 connected to the base and aJ top 39 connected to the sides, the-top having perfo'rations 40 there- 'in and being of a. size to extend laterally or rearwardly of the sides as shown. The base, sides and top form an open frame which is supported upon feet 41 secured to the ends of the bottom extended beyond the sides. lVhile the frame has been illustrated and described as having a bottom, sides and top made of separate pieces it will be obvious it may be made of one piece. The heat unit is mounted in said frame by brackets 42 fixed to the plate enclosing strap 36 secured upon brackets 43 fixed to the sides of and Within the frame. The back of the heating unit is enclosed in the frame by a metal plate 44 removably mounted in the frame. For this purpose pairs of opposed lugs 45 are stamped from and bent inward from the top and bottom of the frame members, the closure plate 44 being of a length so that the opposite ends will engage between the lugs 45. The lugs in the top may be of a length equal to Athe distance between the sides forming an opening 46 in the top (Figure To insert the hack plate the upper end is passed through said opening 46 when the lower end may be engaged and seated between the lugs in the bottom when the plate is lowered, theremoval of said back plate being facilitated by a fingerpiec'e 47 fixed thereto. The inner Vlector 49 is provided, this beingin the form of a sheet having perforations for the passage ot thev heating elements so that the sheet may lie contiguous to the Aface of the plate 16, the ends of the sheet being bent forwardly to form sides 50 diverging or inclining outward from the bottom (Figures 2 and 5) and mounted in the frame by riveting or otherwise to ears 51 on the heating unit supporting brackets 43.

In the arrangement shown in Figures 2 and 6 a series of four heating elements are provided. For this purpose there is mounted upon a lateral extension 52 of one of theframe supporting feet 41 an electric connection member 53 having a pair of prong contact terminals 54, 55 for the releasable connection of a connector connected to lead in conductors from a source of' electricity. One ot' the connector contact prongs, inthe present instance the prong 55, has a conductor 5G connected to the connectors 31 to which the terminals 22 of `the resistance member 19 of the heating elements are connected. The other connector contact prong 54 is connected by a conductor 57 with a resilient contact making member 5S fixed to an insulator mounting member 60 for circuit controlling means mounted in the frame supporting foot upon which the connector 53 is mounted. 'the contact 58 has rubbing contact Witha stud' 59 of conducting material rotatably mounted in the mounting member 60 by cngaging a reduced portion of said stud in a bifurcation of the contact 5S, as shown at (3l in Figure 4 The stud 59 has fixed thereon a contact maker (l2 ot' segmental form by mounting the same in an insulator carrier (33% therefor. The other terminals 24 of the resistance elements 19 of the heating-units are connected through the connectors 31 and conductors a, Z), e and rl with contacts a', b', c and d carried by themounting member (it) in insulated relation to each other. The circuit is closed through one or more of the contacts a', b, e and d', the segment Contact (l2. stud 5S) connected with the one Contact prong 54 of the connector 523 through 58 and comluctor 57 and the conductor 56 connected to the other contact prongr 55 of the connector 5?. 'l`he'conta t segment 62 is actuated hy a. lever ($4 of insulator material fixed to the stud 59.

For the purpose of cooking an article a holder is provided to position the article in the radiant heat zone of the heat clement or elianeuts. and comprising a pan-like struelure pivotally mounted upon the frame supporting feet by pivot studs 6G having knurled heads threaded from the outside into said feet, the ends of said studs being of conical form and adapted to engage in perfoi-ations in ears 67 arranged on the sides at opposite corners. The opposite sides and one` end to constitute the top diverge or flare outward to have contact with the dii/erging walls ofthe deleetor 39, as shown in Fig. ure 2.- The heating unit is arranged in said supporting frame to extend in a vertical direction, and the pan is supported at its oppositev lower corners and adapted to be moved to position in front of the heating element, or to extend in a horizontal plane and supported in said latter position by a rod (S8 extending transversely between and connecting theframe supporting feet and retained in its vertical position in front of the heating unit by a latch 69 pivotally carried by ahandle 70 fixed to the top of the pan engaged over the edge or top of the deflector 49.

To supportan article, indicated at A. such as chops, a steak or the like in the holder or pan to position such article in the zone of the heat radiated from the heating element to cook' the same, commonly termed broiling the article Ais placed in a grill 7l and the grill is arranged with means for engagement in inclined slots 72 cut into the edge of" the opposite walls of the holder. To catchand hold any drippings from an article as it is being cooked the holder pan at the, bot-tom and one end to constitute the bottom when the holder is in article cooking position is bnlged outwardly, as'at 73, forming a depression in said portion of the holder extending below the bot-tom and outward from the side of the pan, which depression will be below the bot-tom of the holder when in horizontal position as shown in dotted lines in Figure 2, thus retaining the drippings in said outwardly bulged portion of the holder in all positions thereof, which drippings may beremoved by a spoon or the holder may be released from its supporting studs (56 and the same poured Afrom one corner ot' the holder. By arrangement of the openings 4() in the topo the supporting frame heat is adapted to pass therethrough, and by extending the top laterally it serrcsas a shelf for dishes 74 to warm the same. during the cooking process. In the embmliment of the invent-ion shown in Figures 11 to 15, inclusive, which may be the. preferred form of the invention, the carrier for the heating element or elements is in the form of a. brick or plate of heat. resisting and nou-conducting material the same vas is shown in Figure (l. Ilowever, instead of recessing the heating elements in the face of said carrier and having a .portion project-ing therefrom the entire heating clement or elements is recessed into the face of the carrier with the outer surface of the heat-ing element flush with the face ol the carrier, thus arranging the heating element in the form of a vein or veins 1n the face of the carrler. For 'this A purpose'` there is'provided in the face of the tions.- Theheating elements comprise a coil of Vhigh resistance conductor mate-rial 77 embeddedl'in ama-terial having high thermal conductivity and-a non-conductor of electricity, the same as the material from which the heating elements 19 are made. The heatirgr elements are connected with a source of electricity by connectors in the form of studs 78 engaged from theback of the carrier in openings communicating with the terminals of the recesses 75, 7G, the terminals of the conductors being connected to said connectors by engaging a screw 79 in a. loop at the ends of the coils of the resistance conductors and-threaded into the ends of the studs. The opposite ends ofV the studs projectifrcm the back of the plate 16 and yhave bindingv nut-s, as shown at 80, threaded thereon for the connection of con'- ductors `for electrically connecting the studs with each other and a source of electricity. The openings in the plate 16 through which the studslextend may have insulator bushings 8l arranged therein. To electrically connect the'resistance elements a connector ost of each element is connected by a con! ductor 82, and one of said connected posts is connected by a conduetor S3 with a post connected to the other terminal ot one resistance element, and t-he other ofsaid posts connected by a conductor 84 with the connector post connected with the connector of the other resistance element, and said latter posts connected by conductors 85, 86 with a source of electricity.

It will be obvious that various modifications may be made in construction and arrangement 'of parts, and that portions of the invention may -be used without others and come within the scope of the invention.

Having thus described my invention I claim:

1. In an electric cooking device, a frame, a heating unit embodying a series of elements, a carrier for` said heating unit removably supported in the frame, terminal connectors mounted on said carrier -for the connection of the termina-ls of the elements of the heating unit, and means electrically connected with the terminal connectors and adapted for connection with a source of electricity to connect one or more of the elements of the heating unit in an electric circuit.

2. In an electric cooking device as claimed in claim 1 a holder pivotally carried by the trame and adapted to carry articles to be cooked in opposed relation to the elements of the heating unit.

3. In an electric heating device, a Jframe,

radiant electric heating elements mounted a plate of heat insulating Aand non-conduct ing material, heating elements mounted in one face of said plate comprising truncated conica-l cores of material having high thermal conductivity with perforations therethrough to register with perforations in the plate, and a spiral groove' about the periph ery thereof, a high resistance conductor arranged in the spiral' groove with the terminals passed through the perforations, and a layer of the same'material as the core applied to and enclosing the conductor and said material and the core adapted to be rendered incandescent by the passing of a current through the conductor, and thermal connectors mounted on the face of the plate opposite to the heating elements for conncction of the conductor terminals of the heating elements and of conductors leading` `from a source of electricity.

4. In an electric heating device as claimed in claim 3, wherein the heating elements have a central projection extending from the base for engagement in enlargements of certain ol' the perforations in the insulator plate. f

5. In an electric heater, a. plate of heat insulating and non-conducting material,

upon said plate, each element comprising a truncated conical body of material having high thermal conductivity and a non-conductor of electricity, a spirally arranged Wire of lresistance material embedded in the material of said body, terminal connectors mounted on the plate for electric connection with said heating elements and for connect-- ing the same with a source of electricity.

6. In an electric heating device, a plate of heat insulating and non-conducting material, a series, of radiant electric heating elements mounted on the plate, each element comprising a body of refractory material having high thermal conductivity with the electric conductor embedded therein and 11o capable of rendering the material incandescent by the passing of a current through the conductor, and terminal connectors mounted on the insulating plate adapted to connect the heating elements with a source of electricity.

7. An electric' cooking device as claimed in claim 6, wherein the heating elements comprise a. core having a high resistence electric conductor coiled about the core and alayer of the same material as the core applied to and enclosing the conductor, said core and the conductor enclosing material being adapted to be rendered incandescent byan electric current passed through the conductor.

8. In an electric heating device, a plate of heat insulating and non-conducting material arranged with perforations therethrough, heating elements adapted to be mounted upon the plate comprising a body of material having high thermal conductivity and a non-conductor of electricity With an electric conductor embedded therein having the terminals extended through pertorations in the body to coincide with the perforations in said plate, and terminal conneetors arranged on the insulator plate for connectionot' the conductor terminals with a source of electricity.

9. In an electric heating device as claimed in claim 8, means connected to the connectors arranged for connection with a source of electricity operative to connect one or more of the heatingV elements in circuit therewith.

10. In an electric cooking device, a supporting,r frame., a plate ot heat resisting and non-conducting material carried in vertical position in the frame, a radiant electric unit arranged With an outwardly bulged portion.

at. one end adapted to receive drippings from an article being cooked and reta-in said drippings in said bulged portion when moved to horizontal position.

Signed at. New York city, in the county ot New York and State of New York, this 17th day ot July, 1926.

ANTHONY J. BREssAN. 

